Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 54 The So-Called Most Important Decision in Life

The first brand to formally negotiate with Xu Ling's team was LN, a domestic brand.

This time, they further increased their offer to $60 million over four years, once again demonstrating their astonishing sincerity. A brief silence fell over the conference room when LN's representative calmly announced this figure at the table. Even Leon Rose, a veteran of many high-profile events, couldn't hide his surprise—this not only far exceeded the price tag of a typical rookie, but even in the entire history of Chinese business, it was an unprecedentedly bold contract.

What's even more striking is the horizontal comparison: on the same day, Nike just officially announced a 7-year, $6000 million endorsement deal with Kevin Durant, another top prospect in this year's draft. On average, Durant's annual salary is less than ten million. LN's offer to Xu Ling is not only more generous in total amount, but also conveys an almost unconventional level of trust and expectation.

Xu Ling himself was also taken aback. Although he had anticipated a considerable offer, he hadn't expected a brand from his homeland to display such astonishing boldness.

Roderick Craig, who was standing next to Xu Ling, almost jumped out of his chair. He whispered excitedly in Xu Ling's ear, "Brother, $60 million for four years! What are we waiting for? Let's take it!"

However, after a brief moment of shock, Leon Rose quickly regained his composure. He placed his hands on the table, his gaze sharp as he looked at the other party's representative. Then, turning slightly to the side, he analyzed to Xu Ling in a tone where rationality prevailed over emotion: "Eli, this is indeed an incredible offer, and LN's sincerity is undeniable. But we must take a calm look—while LN is powerful in the Asian market, its influence and distribution channels in the NBA and international basketball market are still far inferior to global giants like Nike and Adidas. The contract amount is high, but whether the brand's international platform and basketball DNA are sufficient to propel your influence to the world is something we must weigh."

Xu Ling agreed with Ross's rational analysis, but his gaze couldn't help but sweep over the astonishing figure on the contract again, and he sighed softly, "But this is still a lot of money, isn't it?"

"Yes, without a doubt."

Ross nodded. He knew perfectly well that although he could offer professional advice, the final decision rested with Xu Ling.

Xu Ling turned to LN's representative, her tone sincere and steady: "Thank you so much for showing such great sincerity. I am truly moved. This offer is not just a contract, but also a weighty trust, which my team and I deeply appreciate."

"Out of respect for this trust, and out of responsibility for my overall career plan, we still need to complete the previously agreed meetings with several other sports brands. I can assure you that if the final offers from other brands cannot surpass LN's proposal, I will be very honored to sign with LN and embark on this journey together."

LN's representative expressed understanding of Xu Ling's response. They were extremely confident in their offer—such an astonishing figure was enough to overwhelm the vast majority of competitors.

What level of quote is this?

It's almost equivalent to the staggering $100 million contract Reebok offered LeBron James years ago, a contract that shocked the league. However, thinking of this precedent, a shadow involuntarily fell over LN's mind.

Because James ultimately rejected that contract. It was a high-stakes gamble for Reebok to turn its fortunes around, but the outcome was that James chose to join Nike's elite team, and Reebok itself was acquired by Adidas a few years later.

“No, the situation is different,” the LN representative shook his head inwardly, trying to dispel the unease. “There shouldn’t be any more matching or even higher offers.”

This isn't based on doubt about other companies' financial resources, but rather on industry rules and balance. LN's offer to Xu Ling is already at the level of an established superstar. For industry giants like Nike and Adidas, a 7-year, $6000 million contract like Durant's is practically the limit for investing in rookies. Offering a higher deal to a rookie who hasn't yet experienced the NBA would inevitably provoke discontent among their many established stars—the chain reaction that would occur if the team's internal salary structure and endorsement hierarchy were disrupted is something no brand wants to face.

So no, he kept telling himself. It was almost a sure-win gamble.

Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Manhattan
Lawrence Norman, Adidas' global basketball executive, stood by the window of his suite, overlooking the staggered New York skyline. His mood, however, was far less expansive and cheerful than the view itself suggested.

As the helmsman of Adidas' basketball business, he understood better than anyone the predicament the company faced in the new century: despite being one of the two poles of the global sporting goods industry alongside Nike, Adidas was steadily losing ground in the fiercely competitive arena of basketball. They seemed to hold a winning hand—the so-called "Adidas Five" were renowned. However, beneath this dazzling roster lay undeniable flaws: McGrady's injury-prone nature destined him to never reach his expected peak; Arenas's glory largely remained confined to the regular season; Duncan and Garnett ultimately couldn't escape the commercial curse of "no shoes for big men"; and as for Billups Norman, a wry smile was all that was needed.

The real blow came at the beginning of the century when Kobe Bryant switched to Nike. That not only meant the loss of a superstar, but also completely shattered the balance of competition. Today, Nike has virtually monopolized all of the NBA's perimeter superstars, building an unshakeable commercial empire.

Adidas possesses strong corporate strength and a strong desire; what they urgently need is a superstar who can conquer the market and have a groundbreaking influence.

Is Xu Ling the person Adidas has been waiting for? Only time will tell, but Lawrence Norman firmly believes that Xu Ling not only has the ability to surpass Yao Ming and become the new generation of basketball icon in Asia, but more importantly, as an outside player, he is very likely to completely open up the Chinese market with unprecedented influence, helping Adidas to regain the most crucial market share from Nike's encirclement.

Based on this alone, he is already the most commercially valuable player among this year's rookies.

Xu Ling and his team entered the suite. Lawrence Norman stood up and shook hands with them with professional enthusiasm. Then, without any hesitation, he quickly got to the point, his tone calm and confident.

“Eli, first allow me to clarify Adidas’s position,” Norman began directly and forcefully. “In the basketball arena, we acknowledge that Nike currently holds a slight advantage. But ‘competition’ is the cornerstone of the healthy development of this industry, and Adidas has all the platforms to support the success of any superstar on a global scale: a top-notch supply chain, a global distribution network, and an engineering research and development center at its German headquarters. Our hardware capabilities are impeccable.”

Norman then shifted his tone slightly, a hint of barely perceptible annoyance in his voice: "We made a mistake, being too fixated on finding a 'Jordan successor.' But history has proven that great brands are never about copying, but about creating. Now we're not focused on 'the next one,' but on unique stars of tomorrow."

Yes, Xu Ling had heard from Leon Rose about Kobe breaking ties with everyone for Vanessa. The story sounded very bizarre because Adidas seemed to have no way of getting involved, but that's exactly what happened.

Norman then showed Xu Ling the sample shoes, claiming that they incorporated the most advanced materials available today and featured various proven scientific designs. Xu Ling, of course, didn't understand these things, but he was very satisfied with Adidas's design aesthetics; it was a beautiful pair of sneakers.

The talks quickly moved into contract negotiations. Adidas almost readily agreed to all of Leon Rose's terms, from the right to use his personal logo to performance bonuses, demonstrating great flexibility in the collaboration. However, a significant disagreement arose on the most crucial aspect: the endorsement fee. Adidas's offer was $50 million over seven years.

Ross was clearly prepared for this. He calmly took another document from his briefcase—LN's letter of intent for a four-year, $60 million offer.

Ross calmly pushed him toward Norman's side.

“We highly recognize Adidas’ brand strength and sincerity,” Ross said steadily, “but the foundation of business cooperation is equal value. Look, this is the reality we are facing now.”

Norman's gaze swept over the numbers on the document, and his expression instantly turned serious. The air in the room seemed to freeze.

After a moment of silence, Norman did not directly refuse or defend himself, but picked up his phone and said to everyone with a serious expression, "Please give me a few minutes. I need authorization from headquarters for this matter."

A few minutes later, Norman walked over with a beaming smile and said, "Headquarters has agreed."

Xu Ling remained silent, only nodding to Ross.

Leon Ross, speaking on behalf of the entire team, said: "Laurence, we are deeply impressed by your company's sincerity and determination. We truly feel Adidas's goodwill. However, out of respect for all negotiating parties, especially Nike's prior commitments, we must complete tomorrow's meeting. But I can assure you that this will be the last meeting."

Norman wanted to sign immediately, but he fully understood this professional procedure. He nodded and replied, "No problem, we'll wait for your final decision."

As he stepped out of the Four Seasons Hotel, Roderick Craig couldn't help but blurt out his doubts: "Do we really need to meet with Nike? Could they possibly offer anything better?"

"Probably not." Leon Rose smiled faintly.

"Then why should we waste our time?"

“Hey, Rock,” Xu Ling said this time, “that’s Nike. Even if it’s just to satisfy my curiosity, I have to see for myself what kind of ‘invitation’ they’ve prepared for me.”

The following morning, in the meeting room that Nike had booked.

The atmosphere was starkly different from Adidas's enthusiastic pursuit. Nike's negotiating delegation consisted of two people: Thomas House, Senior Director of Basketball Affairs from the Beaverton headquarters in Oregon; and Maverick Carter, LeBron James' close friend and business confidant. Since LeBron and Xu Ling were both represented by Leon Rose, Carter's presence was ostensibly to "assist in communication," but in reality, it was more of a gesture.

Carter had previously met Xu Ling in a private meeting with James, and his somewhat flamboyant style, which relied on his status as a superstar friend, did not leave a good impression on Xu Ling.

At the start of the meeting, Nike displayed an almost self-righteous sense of superiority. Thomas delivered a lengthy and elaborate brand presentation, recounting Nike's glorious history of collaborating with superstars such as Jordan and Kobe.

“Eli,” House concluded, as if stating an unspoken truth, “choosing Nike is much more than just choosing a contract. It means joining a truly elite club, becoming a member of the most powerful and prestigious empire in the sports world. It’s a ticket that most athletes dream of.”

Maverick Carter immediately chimed in, giving Xu Ling a knowing smile: "That's right. LeBron always says that here, you get far more than just checks; you get a kingdom. It's like you've got the key to legend."

Thomas House's words were far less impactful than Lawrence Norman's. He spent a great deal of time recounting Nike's glorious history and constantly emphasizing the "honor" of being a Nike ambassador, but almost never mentioned any specific long-term development plans or brand investments Nike had for Xu Ling personally.

This gives a clear impression: they value not Xu Ling's potential, but the Chinese market he represents. This is not inherently wrong, as all brands' interest in Xu Ling stems from this. But the core question is: what price are they willing to pay for this market?
Upon hearing this, Xu Ling revealed an enigmatic smile and decisively interrupted the other party's brand narrative: "Let's talk directly about the contract, Mr. House."

House seemed to have been prepared, calmly gesturing to his assistant to hand over a pre-drafted contract across the table.

Leon Ross took the document, quickly flipping to the key page to read the details. The additional clauses and rewards were almost identical to those of Adidas. Ross's gaze lingered on the numbers for a moment, then he subtly turned the contract towards Xu Ling, his finger pointing precisely to the monetary entries.

$4000 million over 7 years.

Xu Ling shifted his gaze from the contract to Thomas House and calmly asked, "I understand that your company has just reached a 7-year, $6000 million agreement with Kevin Durant, is that correct?" House seemed to have anticipated this question and nodded, "Yes, Kevin is undoubtedly a very talented young man, and we have high expectations for his future development."

“So,” Xu Ling leaned forward slightly, looking directly at the other person, “could you please enlighten me? By almost every visible standard—I have a more illustrious NCAA record, leading a team far less talented than the University of Texas to a national championship. More importantly, it was in a head-to-head matchup with Durant that I hit that game-winning three-pointer from beyond the arc, right under his defense. Why is it that, despite having proven myself to be the better player, I received a full twenty million dollars less in offers than him?”

A hush fell over the conference room. Leon Rose didn't speak, but simply watched House, awaiting his response.

Thomas House maintained his professional smile. "Eli, when we evaluate a player, we value his future potential, not just his past achievements. Our judgment of commercial value is based on a mature predictive model. This takes into account many dimensions: such as the potential for development of physical talent, the ability to continuously evolve technical style, and whether you can truly integrate into and attract the mainstream North American market."

"Frankly speaking, your achievements in the NCAA are certainly remarkable, but they cannot be directly equated with success in the NBA, nor can they be easily converted into commercial returns in the market. Our current offer is based on the value assessed by this rigorous system—it accurately positions you in your current position. Nike has always insisted on accompanying athletes' growth with the most professional and long-term vision, rather than simply chasing short-term popularity."

Nike has an almost obsessive confidence in its accuracy in assessing player potential, and this offer is their conclusion written in terms of contract amount: Xu Ling's future development can never be compared with Kevin Durant.

At that moment, Xu Ling felt a familiar surge of anger welling up in his chest—the resentment that had been building up during the tryouts when the Trail Blazers and SuperSonics dismissed and excluded him with vague reasons like "potential" and "future ceiling." This emotion had dissipated with the Grizzlies' approval, but it was reignited, even more intensely, by Thomas House's arrogant and official remarks.

Just as he was about to tell Nike to "get out" on the spot, Maverick Carter, who didn't belong at the negotiating table and had only forced his way in because of his "LeBron Brothers" status, suddenly interrupted with a smile, looking like he knew everything: "Hey, Eli, give me a minute, let's have a private chat."

Without waiting for Xu Ling's response, he walked to the rest area by the window on his own.

Xu Ling suppressed the words that were already on the tip of his tongue and followed without expression.

Carter immediately adopted a candid attitude, leaning closer to Xu Ling, his voice low but unable to hide his excitement. "Listen, bro, I completely understand. Money, everyone cares about that."

"But you have to look at the long term, look at the bigger picture. Nike is the passport to the basketball world, the ceiling of professional basketball. As long as you wear this logo, all the doors will open for you—media, exposure, top industry resources. LeBron is also very much looking forward to you joining us. He told me personally, 'Mav, that kid needs to think further ahead.'"

Carter leaned closer, his tone becoming more sincere: "The money issue isn't insurmountable. If LeBron were willing to say a word, the situation could be completely different. But that requires you to take that first step, to show your sincerity and foresight, right? Don't let this small difference obscure your path to the future. Believe me, signing this contract will be the best decision you've ever made. You know how many people fight tooth and nail for an opportunity like this."

Looking at Carter's self-righteous face and listening to his endless "guidance," Xu Ling felt a surge of anger that almost extinguished his reason.

Oh? Bro? I'm flattered. You, who only deserve to sit at this table because you're a true brother, are actually here to give me life advice? That's truly touching.

Nike's "elite club" has some interesting entry requirements. On one hand, it tells me precisely that "you're not worthy" with a contract that's 20 million less than Durant's, and on the other hand, it asks me to tell you how supreme this honor is? If LeBron's reputation is really that valuable, can it be directly converted into cash?
"I understand, it's LeBron's idea, right?" Xu Ling asked with a harmless smile.

“That’s right,” Carter said, getting even more excited when Xu Ling mentioned LeBron. “LeBron is particularly concerned about this; he’s always considered you his little brother.”

“I see,” Xu Ling said with a smile, her tone relaxed. “Then I know what to do.”

Xu Ling turned around and walked back to the negotiating table, sat down again, and glanced at Thomas House and Maverick Carter, who still looked somewhat smug.

“Maverick is right,” Xu Ling said, his voice clear and steady. “This may indeed be the most important decision of my life.”

Xu Ling continued, "Therefore, after careful consideration, the only price I can accept is $9000 million over 7 years."

"This is the only number that reflects my value and makes me willing to work with Nike—the so-called 'elite club' you all talk about."

The air in the conference room seemed to be sucked out and instantly froze.

Thomas House's ever-present professional smile froze completely for the first time, his pupils contracting sharply in shock. He was as if struck by an invisible hammer, his mouth agape, yet no sound came out.

This figure is so absurd that it exceeds his authorized scope and even surpasses Nike's entire historical framework of investing in rookies.

“This…this is absolutely impossible!” House’s voice was dry and hoarse, almost cracking. “Eli! Do you know what this number means? It completely overturns the logic of the market! This even exceeds the offer we gave LeBron! The board will never approve it.”

“Mr. House,” Xu Ling interrupted him calmly, “the logic of the market is defined by the boldest buyers and me, the seller, not by your budget committee. LN and Adidas have redefined the logic. Now, it’s your turn.”

Just then, Maverick Carter moved. Instead of being furious as before, he flashed an expression of "I knew it" on his face, followed by a fake smile that mixed regret and "I told you so."

“Bro Eli, listen,” Carter’s tone became unusually “sincere,” as if he were feeling sorry for a misguided underling, “I understand, everyone wants a big contract. But have you really thought this through? What are you giving up for this money?”

As he spoke, Carter leaned forward and lowered his voice, as if sharing a huge secret: "It's LeBron's friendship, the resources of the Nike empire, and countless opportunities to make more money than this contract in the future! LeBron really wants you to join, but he also wants his little brother to be a visionary who understands the 'big picture,' not just focused on the immediate price difference."

He specifically emphasized the word "price difference," as if the difference of tens of millions was insignificant.

“Sign this contract and you gain a kingdom. Reject it and you might lose a lot.” Carter’s smile became somewhat playful. “Think about it, in the league from now on, who will be your strongest friend? Who can inadvertently make things difficult for you? Business decisions aren’t always about money, Bro. Sometimes, it’s more important to be on the right side.”

This is a blatant threat, disguised as a "brotherly" threat. Coming from LeBron James' closest confidant, its significance is self-evident.

Leon Rose's face darkened instantly. He was about to speak when Xu Ling raised his hand slightly to stop him.

For the first time, a clear and undisguised sneer appeared on Xu Ling's face.

“Bro?” Xu Ling repeated the title, laughing sarcastically. “So, your so-called ‘brotherhood’ is just offering an insulting price first, then sending you to tell me that not accepting it means disregarding the bigger picture?”

"Your whole scheme was calculated from the very beginning. First, you used your relationship with LeBron to get closer, and then you, your damn lackey, told me that refusing Nike was disrespectful and immature towards LeBron. In the end, you never intended to give me the respect I deserved; you just wanted to turn me into a pawn on the Nike empire's chessboard at the lowest possible cost, while also accumulating credit for yourself in front of James and within Nike. Am I right?"

Carter's smile vanished completely, his face turning extremely grim. He hadn't expected Xu Ling to so directly and precisely tear through all the pretense, exposing all the hidden schemes to the light of day.

"As for your question about LeBron's friendship?" Xu Ling chuckled lightly, but there was no warmth in his voice. "If a genuine friendship requires losing tens of millions of dollars or accepting an insulting offer, then that friendship is far too expensive. I don't need that kind of friendship."

Then, Xu Ling's gaze returned to the somber-faced Thomas House, and he delivered his final verdict: "Seven years, ninety million dollars. Not a penny less, and there's no point in continuing this negotiation. This isn't a discussion; this is a notification. Please contact Beaverton (Nike headquarters) immediately for authorization, or..."

Xu Ling stood up, and Leon Rose and Roderick followed suit.

"We don't need to waste each other's time. Representatives from LN and Adidas are still waiting for our good news."

The decision-making window for what is considered the most important decision in life is often surprisingly short.

The "time" Xu Ling mentioned was actually just the forty seconds it took him, Ross, and Craig to ride the elevator from the Nike conference room to the hotel lobby. In those forty seconds, there was no emergency call from Beaverton headquarters, no follow-up apologies, only the silent descent of the elevator.

Forty seconds is just enough for someone stung by arrogance to make up their mind to embrace genuine respect.

“Adidas it is.” Xu Ling said calmly to Leon Ross as the elevator doors opened on the first floor.

"I hope this won't put you in a difficult position?" Xu Ling looked at Leon Rose with a mocking expression. The outcome of today's negotiations with Nike was far from satisfactory. Maverick Carter came carrying James's expectations, and Leon Rose, as the agent for both Xu Ling and James, was in a very awkward position.

However, Ross was a professional agent, and he gave Xu Ling a professional smile: "An agent is only an agent when he is with you. In other words, I am only serving you today, and you have the right to make the most advantageous decision for your own benefit."

The most important decisions in life are sometimes not about struggling between two perfect options, but about making the only choice that aligns with intelligence and dignity, between sincerity and arrogance.

“What’s more, that’s a difference of twenty million dollars!” Craig interjected indignantly, as if the anger was still stuck in his chest. “Nike is utter garbage!”

Xu Ling smiled and didn't refute. He took out his phone, and the screen lit up, displaying a final confirmation message from Lawrence Norman sent a few hours earlier, ending with—"The Adidas family always welcomes you."

The so-called "elite club" pass is sometimes nothing more than a piece of waste paper that they print everywhere and try to get you to buy at a high price.

This is what is called the most important decision in life.

(End of this chapter)